Michael Do is the CEO of 1Long, a digital wealth management platform helping Vietnam's rising affluent save with flexible cash products and invest responsibly with structured portfolios.

They’ve raised $500k from Iterative and Monk's Hill Ventures. Their funded accounts are growing 140% MOM on a high base, 90% account retention, and organically growing AUM without any promotions.

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👋🏼  How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

I'm the founder of a digital wealth management platform helping customers of all financial backgrounds save better and invest more responsibly.

That includes simplifying the available asset classes in Vietnam and catering a customer journey targeted at financial goals over active trading.

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🧐  What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I've spent over 15 years or about half of my life living in Delaware.

Didn’t get to see much of the world while I was growing up. I think that made opening up to new cultures when I entered university that much more rewarding.

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🏆  What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

There have been many. I could mention getting into investment banking, product management, venture capital, or founding a YC-backed start-up.

But perhaps the unconventional response would be to say the biggest highlight was getting my first job in Vietnam.

Before that point, I barely ever traveled abroad so I wasn't sure that I would fit in or my skill set would be applicable. That first role helped me to adapt to the market and culture here.

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🔍  What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?

I feel like a lot of founders would say AI, but in my opinion, the race right now is to build the most scalable foundational model,  which requires significant capital.

For Vietnam, the payment space is going through a renaissance now with the rapid adoption of QR codes as a form of payment thanks for VietQR.

With payments costs basically at 0 for merchants, the payment space will have to find other ways to generate fees from merchants.

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💼  What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

As a fintech founder, whatever specific industry you're innovating in, make sure to have at least a few years experience working in a traditional player in that industry.

Whether that's banking, credit, insurance, brokerage, etc. Only then can you get a good grasp of the business model and where it may be improved for customers.

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🗣  What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

Marvel movies, Technology stocks, Vietnam

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🎥  What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Movie: Forrest Gump. Humility and perseverance trumps all. TV: How I Met Your Mother - sitcom with surprisingly deep messages about life.

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🍨  What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Cookie Dough